Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-03-11
NV Grandfather.


ta,ns were drawn across the windowsi
the oil lamp was placed. between us; inc
lire roared up the chimney; we faced
ench other IN two arm chairs, my grand
father and J. 1t was tho anniversary
of his birthday, and /, his grandson,
,be only relative he had left in the
world, had spent the day at his fircside.
more in pity for his loneliness than for
any love of kinship. They said l
should inherit the large fortune he had
acquired, none knew how; but the life
of this strange old man had ever been
an enigma 10 the few who were init
mate with him. and none could foresee
from day to day in which direction the
next seeming freak of his folly would
lie.
SO I was dining with him on the
ninetieth anniversary of his birthday;
and when the repast was finished we
| had drawn up the great armchairs, and
| in silence | watched the deep glow Of
the freight play upon his Ragged face.
depth of the blaze with his piercing
and outstanding eyes. His life had
been a mystery to those who had
known him; for years he had lived in
that little house with but one servants;
and il was only on anniversaries OF
his birthday that | dined at his table.
II was on such occasions MS these that
had learned enough of tho old mans
life TO know that some heavy secret lay
on his mind that some one act in his
long span OF existence had marrcd and
scared the remaining years The few
cred muttcrings, the staring eyes, the
long Its of abstraction, followed by
hoarse pleading, as If for pity. had
told their tale. Occasional mention,
TOO, of early days in Paris-of spccta-
sles there that had dulled the courage
Of stoutest hearts, OF women and men
| dying ut the hands of fanatic republic
cans. of little children falling in the
| widespread sacriice-all these led me
! 10 believe that 1t was in Paris that my
grandfather had spent his early years,
with Paris and with the past that his
secret lay. More | knew not; more |
Jared not ask, for / was always i'll at
ease in the company of this strange
| Did man, whose very eccentrcities re-
| oeled the least advance.
Would lie ever tell me morep was tho
| question asked myself that night; and
as watched the qulvering lip and the
| trembling eyes. aud heard from time
% time the muttered prayer, l felt that
ais secret would perish within him.
But ] was mistaken. for suddenly he
Mrned his chair from the fire, and
| ,lutching the arms of it as if with de-
crm ned purpose, he began to speak
low solemn voice. In minute l
earned that the time had come; the
mystery would be hidden no longer.
Grandson" he said, at comes to
svery man at certain season to know
| that the end of his life is not far dis
liant. that the day is fast approaching
| when he must face his Maker. When
| uch season is come to a man it be-
hooves him to think of those who will
inherit his possessions when he is gone.
| | have thought over that difficult ques-
lion, and l have made my decision.
You are my only relative; you will in
herit such property as possess; but
more than this you will learn now
from me that which no doubt has often
troubled you, this weight that lies up
on my soul and threatens to crush it.
Others have often questioned me; an
die curiosity prompted them to do so.
You have shown your sense and held
your peace. Your discretion has not
escaped me- it shall be rewarded by a
! graf, lication of your suppressed curl.
oslty, painful though it may be to give
| t. You have learned from the words
that have escaped me that images OF
| he past SO before me, images thai
never leave me day or night. that carry
me back again to Paris and to my
CT me.
The old man paused n moment here
for emotion was working strong with /
him; then recovering himself, he Wen
on hurriedly;
"Mv father, himself man of letters
decided to educate me for IL literary pro
fession. With sense and discrmna
ton he planned for me scheme of ed
uealion which embodied II wide rang,
of reading and of travel. l was t.
work my way at Eton, to study for
time at Cambridge, then to seek thu
great certers of learning upon the con
tnent, and to finish in the richly -storet
libraries of the east. 1t was CRANE
idea, worthy of noble and generous
man. Alas! that his generosity was S,
thrown away.
II went to Eton. and passe,
through the school, max ne friends here
gaining honors there, learning some
thing of the classics and of those diff
culties and dsappointments that fac
us all when we start on the battlefield
OF life At Cambridge | was schola
aud took honors. remember now tn
gladness Of my poor father when tn
news came to him that | had mounte
one ruug OF the ladder before me.
hear again his hearty words of con
graduation, feel again the warm pres
sure of his hand, undergo once NOR
the welcome labor of writing to IN
mother. 1t was Il happy time, for
was full OF hope and confidence in IN
own powers, and around me We're thos
whose every thought breathed praye
for my welfare and happiness
Then it came that | should set on
for Paris. 1t was with reluctance tina
they let me leave home. for at that dat
the first murmurs of the mighty torren
of revolution which swept over Franc